There were bucking contests and other amusements and red lemonade. The bowery dance was well patronized.

Walking a Tight Wire; Old Gering could improvise amusements when all the regular stunts were over. On one Fourth a few years later, all the usual affairs Were over, and there were some who proposed to keep alive the interest by something new. Lee Dozier proposed for five dollars to walk a wire from one side of the street to the other. He had the wire stretched, and went to Westervelt's blacksmith shop and' had some hooks made which he could attach to his ankles. He had not told the crowd, but expected to surprise them by walking the wire

. :ksmith Shop lu uv ndivn. n. dugout Shop and Store i the bank to the right of the Spring Bank.

Photo by Harv.

Site of Roubidoux's First Blacksmith Shop

Left to Right: G. L. Shumwav, Clarence A. Paine,

A. B. McCoskey.

head downward hanging by the hooks. That was a courageous undertaking for a five dollar fee. However he had failed to take into consideration the sagging of the wire, and as he left one building he moved one foot to take the first step the other hook began to slide. He slid some distance from the building, and becoming panicky was unable to get the other hook over the wire. There he hung waving the disengaged foot in vain effort, and calling for help, while the crowd yelled in delirious joy at the comical gyrations of the swinging leg.